Lightning-arrester



(No Modem M. D. LAW. LIGHTNING ARRBSTER. No. 400,463. Patented Apr. 2,v1889.

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ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

MYRON D. LAV, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIGHTNING ARRESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,463, dated April 2,1889.

Application iiled October 2, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MYRON D. LAW, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLightning- Arresters for Electric or Dynamo Circuits, of which thefollowing is a speciiicatitn.

My invention has relation to electro-mag netic lightning-arresters forelectric circuits generally, and particularly for arc-light or other dynamo-electric circuits of the form having a ground connection or branchfrom either one or both sides of the dynamo-circuit, a magnet orsolenoid and a fixed contact-plate included in said branch, a shuntaround the magnet or solenoid, including a movable contact-platecontrolled by the magnet or solenoid; and it has for its object asimple, inexpensive, and durable form of arrester, which, as the staticdischarge occurs, is electrically actuated to open the ground-circuit inwhich it is included without opening the dynamocircuit, and therebyprevent the static discharge from drawing or conducting with it thedynamo=current, and when the static discharge is effected the arresterimmediately and automatically assumes or returns to its normal state, soas to be in eon dition for successively discharging from thedynamo-circuit any number of static charges or currents imposingthemselves thereon without injuring or impairing the operativeness ofthe arrester, and without necessitating manual adjustment of thearrester or any of its parts.

My invention, accordingly, consists of the combinations, constructions,and arrangements as hereinafter more particularly described in thespecification, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure lis afront elevation of a lightningarrester for electric circuitsembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same, showingthe movable and fixed electrodes in open contact. Figs. 3 and 4 arerespectively a plan and side elevation of a detail part, and Fig. 5 is adiagrammatic view indicating a simple dynamo-circuit and light`ning-arrester thereon in ground-circuit from the negative side of thesame.

Serial No. 286,962. (No model.)

A represents the arrester, comprising, preferably, a base-plate, a, towhich is affixed an electro-magnet or solenoid, B, preferably thelatter, as shown. The ends of the spool for the solenoid are preferablymetal disks or plates b b', having feet or lugs b2, by means of whichthe solenoid is secured to plate A. The end disks or plates, b b', areelectrically con= nected to the ends of the coil or helix b, so as toinclude the disks b b in circuit with the helix b, and for economy ofconstruction, as hereinafter set forth; but, if desired, any othersuitable construction of solenoid-spool and circuit-connections for thehelix thereof may be employed. The solenoid end, b, is in circuit with abinding-post, C, on plate A, which post C is in circuit with one side,preferably the negative side, of the dynamo-circuit, as indicated at c,Fig. 5. y

D represents a bracket or plate suitably se cured to base-plate A. Inthe drawings I have shown it located below the solenoid B, and to plateD is preferably screwed or otherwise affixed thereto, so as to beremovable therefrom, an electrode or terminal-contact, d, which ispreferably a carbon plate having corrugated or saw-teeth contact side d.On plate D is preferably located a binding-post, d2, for aground-connectien, as shown in Fig. 5. One end of the sliding core b3 ofsolenoid Bis in engagement with a pivoted gravity lever, E, whichcarries at one end an electrode or terminal-contact, c, having corrugated or saw-teeth side c', similar to fixed electrode (l. The lever Emay be of any suitable coniguraticn, and is preferably pivoted near theupper end, as desired, and above the solenoid, so as to have a suitableengagement with the core 1f,- but for economy of construction andcompactness of parts I have indicated an elongated opening, b, in theupper end of the core b3, the length of which is adjusted by means of anend set-screw, b, through which opening loosely passes the curved endcr2 of lever E, which is pivoted at ci to a standard or arm, et, securedto or forming an integral part of the solenoid end plate Z). The lever Eis provided with a set-screw7 c", which contacts with, preferably, abifurcated bracket, e, secured to or formed integral with the solenoidend plate b. The setscrew c, as indicated in the drawings, subserves twoobjects-nist, to complete circuit IOC from-solenoid B to electrode orterminal e, and in turn by electrode or terminal CZ to ground, and,secondly, to vary the degree or extent of contact between theelectrodes, and also to compensate for or take up wear of the same. Thebifurcated bracket e6 prevents lateral movement of the lever E when inits normal position, and the two sides of said bracket preferablydiverge from one another, so as to be farther apart at their outer thanat their inner ends, in order to admit of the set-screw e5 positivelyreturning to its position in said bracket after being thrown or movedout of the same by the oscillations of lever E, as hereinafterdescribed.

Then the arrester is included in the branch 'or ground, as indicated inFig. 5, the branch or ground includes binding-post C, solenoid B,bifurcated lug e6, set-screw e5, the Contact end c of lever E, and fixedcontact d. rlhe upper part of lever E, standard e4, and top plate, b, ofsolenoid forms a shunt around the magnet or solenoid B, and theoperation is as follows: Said parts being arranged as indicated in Fig.l, and the set-screw e5 adjusted to vary the distance apart of theelectrodes e d, any static or foreign charges or currents on the line orcircuit are discharged to ground by way of the branch and its shuntthrough the electrodes e and d. As the discharge occurs, the solenoid Bis energized, which then draws or moves its core b3 inwardly tooscillate lever E in the direction of arrow 11:, which movement opens orbreaks the ground-circuit for the arrester, and preventsthedynamo-current accompanying the static currents as they aredischarged, and hence the electro-magnetic devices of the arrester arenot destroyed or injured by the dynamo-current. As the dynamo-circuit isnot opened nor its current affected when the static discharges occur,the translating devices in the dynamo-circuit are not affectedmomentarily or otherwise when the static discharges are made. As soon asthe ground-circuit is broken or opened by a discharge the solenoid Bceases to be active, and the lever E returns by gravity to close theground-circuit or restore it to normal condition. y

From the foregoing it will be noted that as the arrester when activedoes not open or affect the dynamo-circuit, and when inactiveautomatically places itself in normal condition, the static dischargesare successively made, and no personal attention is required to be givento the arrester, nor manual adjustment of it or its parts are required,eX- cept to keep the contact edges of the electrodes e d in propercondition, and this inspection is only periodically required. As theelectrodes e d wear, the contact edges are repaired and set-screws e5and b5 adjusted to take up or compensate for such wear, and when wornout are replaced by new ones.

In practice one of the arresters may be in circuit with one side of thedynamo-circuit, or each side thereof may be provided with an arrester,or as many may be applied as desired, depending on the extent andcomplexity of the circuit.

From the foregoing it is obvious that if standard e4 is insulated orcomposed of nonconducting material, there will be no shunt around themagnet or solenoid B, in which case the discharge will be through thesolenoid, but when the shunt is used part of the discharge will pass toground through the shunt and part through the solenoid, the latter beingof such a low resistance that it will always act when either a heavy orlight discharge occurs to move electrode e from electrode d, and preventthe static discharge drawing or conducting with it the dynamocurrent.

Vhat l claim is-e l. A lightning-arrester comprisinga solenoid andsliding core having in its upper end an elongated slot, a fixedconductor or contact-plate located below the solenoid, a gravity-leverpivoted above the solenoid and having its upper end in engagement withsaid core-slot and at its lower end a companion contact-plate for saidfixed plate, and circuit-connections, substantially as set forth.

2. In a lightning arrester, the combination of a solenoid and its core,a bifurcated lug, e6, on the end b of the solenoid, fixed contact-plated, gravity-lever E, pivoted to the upper end of the solenoid, and havingau upper end engagement with the solenoid-core, a set or adjustingscrew, e5, on lever E, in contact with lug e6, and a contact-plate, e,and circuit-connections, substantially as set forth.

3. A lightning arrester comprising a lowresistance solenoid in a branchcircuit having a fixed contact-plate, d, and a groundconnection, apivoted gravity-lever, E, having an end engagement with thesolenoid-core, and a contact-plate, c, and circuit-connections,substantially as set forth, whereby said lever E is moved by thesolenoid to separate said contact-plates, and returns by gravity to itsnormal position to restore said contact-plates, as set forth.

4. The combination of solenoid B, having end plates, b b', standard orarm e* on plate b, bifurcated bracket e on plate b', lever E, pivoted toarm e4 and having set-screw e5, engaging with bracket e6, electrode e onsaid lever, fixed electrode d, solenoid-core b3, engaging with saidlever, and circuit-connections, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MYRON D. LAXV.

Witnesses:

S. J. VAN STAVOREN, CHAs. F. VAN HORN.

IIO

